What are Environmental Laws and Regulations? Environmental laws and regulations are laws intended to protect the environment, wildlife, land and beauty, prevent pollution or over-cutting of forests, save endangered species, conserve water, develop and follow general plans, and prevent damaging practices. These laws generally give rights or permission to certain groups or organizations to legally enforce the protections of the environment, or demand changes to any groups or things that could be causing harm to the environment (Hill 2008).
How are Environmental Laws Made? Environmental laws are created in the same way as all other laws are created. First, the law must be written and sent to the House. A Standing Committee will review the bill and do one of three things. They could either send the bill back, make changes to the bill and send it back, or they could table the bill. Tabling the bill means that they wouldn't do anything with it. If the bill is sent back without any changes then the bill will go on a calender and will wait to pass through a vote. In order for the bill to advance it must gain two thirds of the overall vote. From here the bill is sent for consideration at the floor of the House. During consideration, amendments may be added. If the bill passes by majority it goes to the next stage which is the Senate. While at the Senate, the bill is assigned to another Standing Committee who review the bill and release or table it. If it is released than it will go through the whole process once again. The bill could actually start in either the Senate or the House, it does not make a difference either way. When the bill reaches the voting stage it must get the majority vote here as well. If both the Senate and the House pass the bill, than it will go to the president. If the president signs the bill than it becomes a law. However, if he does not agree with it than he would reject the bill. This is more formally known as a veto. If he should veto the bill, than it will go back for another vote. If two thirds of the Senate and two thirds of the House vote in favor of the bill it will become a law ("How Laws" 2007). Major Laws Clean Air Act Clean Water Act Endangered Species Act
What are Environmental Laws and Regulations?
Environmental laws and regulations are laws intended to protect the environment, wildlife, land and beauty, prevent pollution or over-cutting of forests, save endangered species, conserve water, develop and follow general plans, and prevent damaging practices. These laws generally give rights or permission to certain groups or organizations to legally enforce the protections of the environment, or demand changes to any groups or things that could be causing harm to the environment (Hill 2008).
How are Environmental Laws Made?
Environmental laws are created in the same way as all other laws are created. First, the law must be written and sent to the House. A Standing Committee will review the bill and do one of three things. They could either send the bill back, make changes to the bill and send it back, or they could table the bill. Tabling the bill means that they wouldn't do anything with it. If the bill is sent back without any changes then the bill will go on a calender and will wait to pass through a vote. In order for the bill to advance it must gain two thirds of the overall vote. From here the bill is sent for consideration at the floor of the House. During consideration, amendments may be added. If the bill passes by majority it goes to the next stage which is the Senate. While at the Senate, the bill is assigned to another Standing Committee who review the bill and release or table it. If it is released than it will go through the whole process once again. The bill could actually start in either the Senate or the House, it does not make a difference either way. When the bill reaches the voting stage it must get the majority vote here as well. If both the Senate and the House pass the bill, than it will go to the president. If the president signs the bill than it becomes a law. However, if he does not agree with it than he would reject the bill. This is more formally known as a veto. If he should veto the bill, than it will go back for another vote. If two thirds of the Senate and two thirds of the House vote in favor of the bill it will become a law ("How Laws" 2007).
Major Laws
Clean Air Act
Clean Water Act
Endangered Species Act
Other Laws
The Atomic Energy Act 4.9.3
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act 4.9.3
Farmland Protection Policy Act 4.9.3
Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act 4.9.3
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act 4.9.3
Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act 4.9.3
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act 4.9.3
National Environmental Policy Act 4.9.3
Nuclear Waste Policy 4.9.3
Oil Pollution Act 4.9.3
Pollution Prevention Act 4.9.3
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act 4.9.3
Toxic Substances Control Act 4.9.3
Pennsylvania Laws
Clean Streams Law 4.9.3
Air Pollution Control Act 4.9.3
Hazardous Waste Cleanup Act 4.9.3
Wild Resource Conservation Act 4.9.3
Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling, and Waste Reduction Act 4.9.3
Sources
Works Cited 4.9.3
Contacts
The Environmental Protection Agency 4.9.3